--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The stories never said why she was…" description: "\"The stories never said why she was wicked. It was enough to be an old woman, enough to be all alone, enough to look strange because you have no teeth. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/terry-pratchett-19_all-alone_the-stories-never-said-why-she-was-wicke_234812.jpg" --- # The stories never said why she was wicked. It was enough… ![“The stories never said why she was wicked. It was enough to be an old woman, enough to be all alone, enough to look strange because you have no teeth. It was enough to be called a witch. If it came to that, the book never gave you the evidence of anything. It talked about "a handsome prince"…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/terry-pratchett-19_all-alone_the-stories-never-said-why-she-was-wicke_234812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/terry-pratchett-19_all-alone_the-stories-never-said-why-she-was-wicke_234812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/terry-pratchett-19_all-alone_the-stories-never-said-why-she-was-wicke_234812.jpg) > “The stories never said why she was wicked. It was enough to be an old woman, enough to be all alone, enough to look strange because you have no teeth. It was enough to be called a witch. If it came to that, the book never gave you the evidence of anything. It talked about "a handsome prince"... was he really, or was it just because he was a prince that people called handsome? As for "a girl who was as beautiful as the day was long"... well, which day? In midwinter it hardly ever got light! The stories don't want you to think, they just wanted you to believe what you were told...” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrative shows how societal labels and myths shape identity, often without evidence, and how stories enforce conformity. **In simple terms:** Stories label people, shaping identity without proof. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek evidence. Themes identity storytelling conformity stereotypes Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - examining prejudice - teaching critical thinking - analyzing folklore - challenging stereotypes Key Concepts social labeling mythmaking power of narrative Questions to Reflect On - What labels have you accepted without evidence? - How do stories influence your self‑view? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex lives, ignoring nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-alone/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Called Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-witch-437599/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Handsome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Midwinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midwinter/) [Old woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-woman/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-wicked-919375/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-said-1246551/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) [Witch Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-came-2367567/) ## Related quotes > [She also said the wicked people needed love as much as good people and were much better at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-gray/she-also-said-the-wicked-people-needed-love-as-much-as-good-people/) [Alasdair Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-gray/) > [“I've been living like this for a long time - about twenty years. I'm forty now. I used to be in the civil service;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-ve-been-living-like-this-for-a-long-time-about-twenty-years-i-m/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I know she’ll hate him. She likes to be the only one, you know. She likes to dream that she’s queen and that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/i-know-she-ll-hate-him-she-likes-to-be-the-only-one-you-know-she/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [Mrs. Spencer said it was wicked of me to talk like that, but I didn’t mean to be wicked. It’s so easy to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mrs-spencer-said-it-was-wicked-of-me-to-talk-like-that-but-i-didn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Witch's Life" When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. All day she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-witch-s-life-when-i-was-a-child-there-was-an-old-woman-in-our/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [“I stayed indoors most of the time, which kept my skin very white. And my hair was as black as Ilana's. I wore black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-budnitz/i-stayed-indoors-most-of-the-time-which-kept-my-skin-very-white-and/) [Judy Budnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-budnitz/) > [The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-adler/the-first-time-i-called-myself-a-witch-was-the-most-magical-moment-of/) [Margot Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-adler/) > [My great fear is that I'm the ultimate shallow person. I think about this kind of thing a lot, and about this phenomenon in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grimes/my-great-fear-is-that-i-m-the-ultimate-shallow-person-i-think-about/) [Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grimes/) > [“they called her witch because she knew how to heal herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/te-v-smith/they-called-her-witch-because-she-knew-how-to-heal-herself/) [Te V. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/te-v-smith/) > [In her dance, she controlled the bright paper birds with invisible wires and threads. She played the human: heavy, tied to earth. Her dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-catmull/in-her-dance-she-controlled-the-bright-paper-birds-with-invisible/) [Katherine Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-catmull/) > [“men seem to use the word witch more than women. That’s because men have more power than women, and any threat to that power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-colt/men-seem-to-use-the-word-witch-more-than-women-that-s-because-men/) [K.J. Colt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-colt/) > [ “Seven hundred years ago, Tersa had told \[Daemon\] the living myth was coming. Seven hundred years of waiting, watching, searching, hoping. Seven hundred heartbreaking,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/seven-hundred-years-ago-tersa-had-told-daemon-the-living-myth-was/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) > [“These social media shamings bear an uncanny resemblance to medieval witch hunts.” If you were accused of being a witch back then, you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/these-social-media-shamings-bear-an-uncanny-resemblance-to-medieval/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Stories," he'd said, his voice low and almost husky, "we are made up of stories. And even the one's that seem the most like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/stories-he-d-said-his-voice-low-and-almost-husky-we-are-made-up-of/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More All alone quotes > [I'm stranded all alone in the gas station of love, and I have to use the self service pump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-stranded-all-alone-in-the-gas-station-of-love-and-i-have-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Memory. All alone in the moonlight I can smile at the old days I was beautiful then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-nunn/memory-all-alone-in-the-moonlight-i-can-smile-at-the-old-days-i-was/) [Trevor Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-nunn/) > [You staying home all alone on New Year's Eve? Unthinkable. Take my advice the countdown should be shared with someone, or it's just another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-staying-home-all-alone-on-new-year-s-eve-unthinkable-take-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In Prison Wearily, drearily, Half the day long, Flap the great banners High over the stone; Strangely and eerily Sounds the wind's song, Bending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/in-prison-wearily-drearily-half-the-day-long-flap-the-great-banners/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [Those struggling with life-threatening thoughts do not feel connected to others. They feel all alone- even alone in the midst of a crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-hunt/those-struggling-with-life-threatening-thoughts-do-not-feel-connected/) [June Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-hunt/) > [Who will cry for the little boy, lost and all alone? Who will cry for the little boy, abandoned without his own? Who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antwone-fisher/who-will-cry-for-the-little-boy-lost-and-all-alone-who-will-cry-for/) [Antwone Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antwone-fisher/) > [There's much more. There's all that goes beyond – all ... that is Elsewhere – and all that goes back, and back, and back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/there-s-much-more-there-s-all-that-goes-beyond-all-that-is-elsewhere/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I crawled back into myself all alone, just delighted to observe that I was even more miserable than before, because I had brought a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/i-crawled-back-into-myself-all-alone-just-delighted-to-observe-that-i/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [His thumb went back and forth over the satin, as if he were rubbing her hip as he had when they’d been together, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-thumb-went-back-and-forth-over-the-satin-as-if-he-were-rubbing/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Doubt is a central factor all the time. There's always the doubt: What the hell am I doing out here in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-welliver/doubt-is-a-central-factor-all-the-time-there-s-always-the-doubt-what/) [Neil Welliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-welliver/) > [And I have the others in me. Even when I’m far away from them, I am forced to live with them. Even when I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/and-i-have-the-others-in-me-even-when-i-m-far-away-from-them-i-am/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Me and my shadow Strolling down the avenue Oh, me and my shadow Not a soul to tell our troubles to And when it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-rose/me-and-my-shadow-strolling-down-the-avenue-oh-me-and-my-shadow-not-a/) [Billy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-rose/) > [I think every family has that moment when the parents realize they need help and think, Oh my gosh. We cannot do this all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-every-family-has-that-moment-when-the-parents-realize-they/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Everyone, at some point in their lives, wakes up in the middle of the night with the feeling that they are all alone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-at-some-point-in-their-lives-wakes-up-in-the-middle-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As for me, I am mean: that means that I need the suffering of others to exist. A flame. A flame in their hearts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/as-for-me-i-am-mean-that-means-that-i-need-the-suffering-of-others-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) [Browse all 214 All alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The stories never said why she was wicked. It was enough to be an old woman, enough to be all alone, enough to look strange because you have no teeth. It was enough to be called a witch. If it came to that, the book never gave you the evidence of anything. It talked about \"a handsome prince\"... was he really, or was it just because he was a prince that people called handsome? As for \"a girl who was as beautiful as the day was long\"... well, which day? In midwinter it hardly ever got light! 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